What Tax Deductions Should We Keep Track Of?

As the owner of a primary residence and a separate rental unit, what items should we keep track of for deductible expenses? We already write checks for everything on the rental and track them in Quicken Rental Property Manager so that area is accounted for. I'm more interested in whether I am missing other "related " deductions. I track my mileage as it relates to the rental. Did I read here that my auto maintenance and repair bills are partially deductible, if I own (rather than lease) a car?
How about home office expenses for that room that I use to keep track of the rental?
thanks, this board is the best!

Doesn't Quicken rental manager work with TurboTax Premier? That is, it imports the numbers from Quicken rental manager to turbo tax. I know TurboTax Premier does deductions on rental property and would ask you questions regarding what deductions you can take on your rental property.

[ Edited by d_random on Date 11/29/2007 ]

I always use the standard mileage rate vs. actual costs. It's easier to keep track of and for me the difference isn't big enough to worry about in case of audit. You also will want to segregate your depreciable assets for the rental since you must depreciate the property and take the deductions on your return. Deducting costs for the home office are difficult unless you meet the strict tests which include the room must be exclusively used for the business - so it can't be in a guest room where there's a bed for example. The only easy way to take this is if you are a day care operator (rules are fairly liberal). Good luck!

see http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/pg/1/objectId/03E7A8D4-EB53-4711-97F91991D9A8468B/catId/8F8C3C1A-2347-419A-9C65B0B8C7762E3B/213/ART/

for a "top-10"

Question about mileage. I have 4 rental properties that are about 270 miles from where I live. Could I go to each one of them on a separate week end of the month and deduct the total mileage. Now before you ask what am I doing with properties so far from home, well, I just do. Never mind that my mom lives near where they are and I might just stay with her and visit in the evenings. I would worry that I might run up too much mileage and get audited. Not that I am doing anything wrong that I know of, but there might be a thing or two the IRS knows of. I do take my taxes to my tax lady – I don’t try to do them myself. I also have some property in the other direction that is about 125 miles from where I live. Just how much mileage can one guy take/use.that I know of